NOTE: Do any of you play Cardfight Vanguard Zero Global? Because if so, then here's my Friend Code: 340, 721, 950
I would love to Cardfight you guys if you want to.
Please leave a review and enjoy!
Chapter 15: Birth of New Light
"The truth of this world…" Emi repeated as she looked at her Shadow self.
"That's correct, everything about this world and myself," Shadow Emi said. Kamui looked at her skeptically.
"How are we supposed to know that you aren't lying and just trying to hurt Miss Emi again?" He accused her.
The shadow rolled her eyes at the Nova Grappler user. "Because dumbass, I don't want her to leave here without knowing the truth. And just to prove to you that I mean it," Shadow lifted her good arm and a blue light illuminated the room.
Both pre-teens gasped in shock at the figure standing in front of them. Tears built in Emi's eyes and she ran forward, along with Kamui.
"AICHI!"
"BIG BRO!"
The blueberry teen wrapped his arms around both of them. Tears were apparent in his own eyes, "I'm happy to see you guys and to be whole again," Aichi spoke.
"B-But I thought you were dead, Big Bro!?" Kamui spoke, wiping away his tears.
"Y-Yeah, I thought I lost you again, Aichi," Emi gripped her brother tighter. Aichi's hand rubbed circles across her back to comfort her.
"You can never lose me, Emi. I'll always be your big brother, ready to help you at any time," Aichi spoke, softly. He turned around to look at Shadow Emi and the shadow was doing her best to look at everything but him.
"You can join us if you want," Aichi offered.
"Tch, as if I need any of your sweet cra-"
Her words became lost as Aichi wrapped his arms around her. The shadow's breath hitched as his warmth invaded her cold exterior. "You're not alone anymore, so stop trying to separate yourself from everyone. Being alone will only continue to hurt you." Aichi's mind flashed back to when he was overtaken by Psyqualia and when he fought Kai(R). The shadow felt Aichi's hand lift her chin up, her orbs looking deep into his soft blue ones. "You're also Emi, which makes you my little sister. Just stay with us, for as long as you have left, join us as a family," Aichi said.
For the first time in her short existence, Shadow Emi didn't feel cold anymore. Nor did she feel any hatred or regret. Her eyes trailed over from Aichi and over to Emi and Kamui. The two were smiling warmly at her as well. The shadow felt something in her chest, a weird sensation that was entirely new to her.
It was a heartbeat.
For the first time in her life, she felt loved.
"Thank you...thank you…" She cried softly, wiping her tears with her hands.
"Don't thank us, this is just what family does," Emi smiled.
"Yeah, we're family," Shadow Emi also smiled.
Kamui blushed a deep shade of red at seeing two Emis smiling. He would savor this image forever.
"So, about this world and everything?" Aichi reminded her.
"Right, this world is a reflection of your world," Shadow Emi revealed.
"WHAT!?" All three shouted in response. Shadow Emi nodded her head and began walking outside of the Cardshop. The three followed her quickly. When they exited the shop they saw her gazing up at the sky, they followed suit and gasped.
"W-What is that?" Kamui asked.
"That is a Gateway," Shadow Emi answered.
Above them was a giant Gateway, but the strangest thing about it was that it resembles a Vanguard Circle, but with a few differences that the card fighters couldn't recognize.
"What's a Gateway?" Emi asked her counterpart. The Shadow turned around to face her new family.
"It's the entrance and exit to this world, and it's exactly how you ended up here," Shadow Emi said.
"Ended up here...AH!" Emi snapped her fingers at the memory. Her boyfriend and brother turned to her.
"What is it, Miss Emi!? Did you figure something out!?" Kamui asked.
"Yeah, I remember something. It was after Ibuki defeated me, I was just floating around in this dark space. It was empty and cold in there, but for some reason a giant feeling of warmth washed away all of the cold. And when I came to, I had landed in this world," Emi recalled.
"You must've fallen into the Gateway, because of that strange phenomenon you mentioned," Aichi said. Something about this felt off to him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "Wait, you said that this world is a reflection of our world, but Takuto never mentioned something like this existing?" Aichi looked at his Shadow Sister.
"That would be because he wouldn't know that it exists, since this world only recently started existing," She answered.
"Recently?" Emi asked.
"I'm not too sure on everything, since I only came into existence once Emi entered this world. But, this world feeds on negativity that exists on the other side. When that horrific event took place weeks ago, this world was born as a result of everyone's negativity," Shadow Emi explained.
"That would explain why Emi isn't dead. But wait, wouldn't that mean that we aren't dead either?" Aichi realized. His words made his companions gasp in shock.
"What do you mean, Big Bro?" Kamui asked, confused.
"If we were dead then we wouldn't be here. If there's an actual afterlife, then that's where we would all currently be, but we're here in some shadow world. And then there's Emi, who isn't like us. Her heart is completely beating, and her body was never covered in a grey color," Aichi's brain began kicking into overdrive.
Emi started to see the point that her brother is trying to reach. "You guys don't have beating hearts, that would mean that you're lifeless, but when you met me you began to feel life flow into you. So, maybe I have to connect with everyone here?" Emi tried to figure out.
"Hearts…."
The three turned to her in confusion, the shadow had a hand placed to where her new beating heart was placed. "When Emi defeated me and when Aichi accepted me into your family. I felt something that I never would've imagined ever happening before. I have a heartbeat, thanks to you guys. Because you connected your hearts to me and created mine," Shadow Emi smiled, peacefully.
"Connected our hearts…" Emi whispered, then a memory once more flashed into her mind.
"Of course I find Vanguard fun! It's a game that brings joy and connects everyone's hearts together!"
"Connecting hearts! It's all about hearts!" Emi shouted, startling everyone.
"M-Miss Emi?" Kamui looked concerned. The heroine turned towards her brother and boyfriend with an excited look on her face.
"Kamui! Aichi! Touch your chests right now!"
"Wha-Wha?"
"DO IT!"
"Y-Yes Ma'am!" Kamui and Aichi responded. Both of them placed their hands on their chests, they looked confused for a second until they felt a bump, then another, and another, and another, and another. The boys shifted their gazes at each other and grinned broadly.
They could feel their heartbeats.
"WE HAVE HEARTBEATS! WE'RE ALIVE, BIG BRO!" Kamui jumped on Aichi, enveloping the teenager in a hug.
"W-W-Wait, Kamui! Not so suddenly!" Aichi shouted as he was sent off balance, both of them falling onto the ground. Both Emis broke into fits of laughter at the boys.
Once he successfully managed to get Kamui off of him, Aichi got back to his feet. "Though this still confuses me, because when I first found Emi here I didn't have a heartbeat," Aichi said.
"Maybe yours came back after you formed into that deck and bonded with Emi. In that moment your hearts became one and brought you two closer together," Shadow Emi said.
"What about me?" Kamui asked.
"Oh, Kamui. Do you even have to ask?" Emi blushed with a smile. The boy looked at her confusingly, before his brain finally clicked it together and he began blushing as well.
"Emi was able to save us thanks to her bonds with us. Bonds created thanks to Vanguard," Aichi finalized.
"Though that would mean that I can't help everyone else here," Emi frowned.
"Huh? Why Miss Emi?" Kamui questioned.
"I don't have close bonds with everyone that is in this world. So, that means I won't be able to help them, like I did with you guys," Emi explained.
"Hm, I wouldn't be so sure about that," Aichi told her. Emi looked at him confused. "Yes, Emi. You alone won't be able to save everyone. But, there are many people still there in our world who have strong bonds with those in here through Vanguard."
Emi realized what Aichi was getting at. "We have to connect the hearts of everyone together. All of our friends that we've met throughout our journey with Vanguard!"
"And we'll be there with you, Miss Emi!" Kamui shouted with agreement.
"You can't."
"WHAT!? WHY!?" Kamui screeched at her. Aichi and Emi also shared a look of disbelief at the Shadow's words.
"What do you mean we can't go with Emi?" Aichi asked.
"Yes, you two may still be alive, but your bodies don't exist in that world anymore. The only reason Emi is still capable of returning is because her body is still there. You two are stuck here," Shadow Emi revealed. Her eyes downcast at having to shoot down her family's excitement.
"I-I can't just leave then! After everything we just went through, I can't just go home empty handed, right Kamui!?" Emi turned to her boyfriend, expecting him to agree with her. However, he looked at her with a sad smile on his face, his eyes showing acceptance. Emi turned to her brother, hoping for his support. Sadly enough, he had the same look as Kamui.
"You should go, Emi," Aichi said.
"WHAT!? NO I CAN'T! WHAT ABOUT MOM, KAI, MISAKI, AND EVERYONE ELSE!?" Emi shouted in protest. "What about Kourin? They all need you, Aichi."
Aichi placed a hand on Emi's shoulder and kneeled down to look at his sister. "I want to be with everyone again, Emi. But, at the moment it's not possible, and there's nothing we can do about it," He told her.
"How are you so calm about this?" She asked.
"To be honest with you, I've been scared this whole time. But, you were always my first priority and you always will be," Aichi hugged her.
Emi returned his hug. "I promise, Aichi. I'll figure something out, I won't let it end like this. Our family will be back together and we'll all play Vanguard till we pass out," Emi said.
Aichi chuckled at the thought of everyone playing Vanguard till they collapsed. "I know you will, because you're Emi Sendou. And Emi Sendou has the brightest heart of us all."
Emi unattached herself from her brother and turned towards Kamui. "And I promise you that we'll go on a date. A date with just the two of us," She kissed him on the cheek. Kamui's entire face went red and his eyes went bug wide.
"M-M-M-M-M-M-M-MISS E-E-E-EMI K-K-K-KISSED ME! SHE KISSED ME! YAHOO!" Kamui jumped into the air, cheering wildly at his dream come true.
Emi chuckled at his infectious enthusiasm and turned to her Shadow Self.
"So, have you figured it all out?" She asked.
"Yeah, to save everyone, I'll have to join everyone's hearts together. As well as Ibuki's," Emi revealed. Her words shocked Kamui out of his celebration.
"Ibuki? That jerk that hurt you? Why would you help him?" Kamui didn't understand.
Emi looked at her open palm. "Ibuki told me that Psyqualia users could see inside of each other's hearts. When I looked inside of Ibuki's, I saw darkness. But, within that darkness was a small speck of light. Ibuki claimed that he hates Vanguard, but I don't think that's true. If he truly hated Vanguard, then he wouldn't have such a strong connection to it. I'm going to save him as well," Emi said.
Aichi felt a sense of pride well up inside of him as he looked at Emi. His little sister possessed an aura of confidence that was non-existent when she first came to this world. Even though he was angry at Ibuki for hurting Emi, he couldn't fault her for wanting to save him. He had done the same thing with Ren, Leon, and Kai. And if given the opportunity, he would do the same for Ibuki. Aichi pulled something out from his coat pocket.
"Here, Emi."
Emi turned around and saw that Aichi was handing her his old jacket. The heroine gasped at the sight of it, remembering how she threw it away earlier in the midst of her despair. Taking the jacket from her brother's arms, Emi stared at it for a bit before putting it on.
"How do I look?" She asked, bashfully.
"Beautiful," Was all Kamui could say in response. Once again she had managed to take his breath away.
"As beautiful as always, little sister," Aichi responded.
"You look drop dead gorgeous, now hurry it up! I failed to mention before, but that gate won't stay open forever. You have to go now, Emi," The Shadow replied. Emi nodded her head and looked back at the boys.
"I'll see you two soon," Emi said.
"Stay safe, Miss Emi."
"Tell mom that everything will be fine. She won't understand, but show her this," Aichi handed Emi a card. The girl saw what he had handed her and smiled.
"Sure!" Emi nodded her head. She looked at her Shadow for what she knew would be the last time. "What will happen to you once I leave?"
"I'll probably cease to exist. Sucks though, I was getting used to having a family," Shadow Emi smiled as Emi hugged her.
"You're me, so you'll always be a part of this family."
"I know. Now go kick some ass."
A blue aura shimmered around Emi's form, with a new burst of speed she took off into the sky towards the gate. Emi looked back down to see her brother and boyfriend waving and her Shadow Self giving a thumbs up. Giving one last nod, she faced the gate and tightened her resolve. Pulling back her fist as she approached the gate.
"I'm coming back everyone! And this time…"
Rekka…
Misaki…
Blaster Blade…
Everyone…
And even you Ibuki…
"I'LL SHOW YOU THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART!" Emi's fist made contact with the center of the gate, opening it up. Her body turned into a shooting star and she vanished once more from the world. However this time, she left filled with a new determination.
Rekka Tatsunagi felt absolutely drained. She had to walk up the stairs to get her lunch from the hospital cafeteria and the elevators weren't working for some reason. Which meant that she had to walk up several flights of stairs just to get back to Emi's room.
"This...is...so...damn...ANNOYING!" Rekka huffed in the stairwell. She knew that she shouldn't be loud in a hospital, but at the moment she couldn't give any less of a damn. "What kind of hospital has out of order elevators? Ugh!" Rekka had eaten her lunch as she made her way up the stairs. She was not used to this much physical labor.
Once the idol made it to her destination, she walked through the hallway. All around her doctors, nurses, and patients were conversing or working on things. Not that it mattered much to her, all that was on her mind currently was checking up on Emi. When she got into the room she tossed the empty tray onto the small table in the room and sat down on one of the cushioned seats.
"Hey, Rekka."
"Hey, Emi."
…
…
…
…
…
…
"Eh?"
"EH!? EMI!?" Rekka jumped out of her seat and gaped with a wide open mouth. In front of her was her best friend Emi Sendou, sitting up in her hospital bed while dressed in a standard hospital gown. But, the most important part was that Emi was awake. Her best friend was awake and smiling. Rekka wasted no time in jumping on Emi's bed and hugging the daylights out of her friend.
"I missed you...I was so scared that you'd...you'd…"
"I'm sorry for hurting you like that, Rekka. I missed you too."
Both girls sat there in the hospital room in each other's arms, enjoying the embrace for as long as they could.
NOTE: I hope you guys are satisfied with the explanation given as to why Aichi and Kamui couldn't go with Emi. As I was writing this whole arc for Emi I was giving myself Persona 4 and Kingdom Hearts vibes. But, I felt that in the end it still fit the theme of Vanguard.
This part also ends off the first half of this story. This doesn't mean I'm going to put this one as "Complete" the 2nd half will start after the next chapter. This first half was meant to establish certain characters that are essential for this story. Namely Emi, Kai, and Chrono. Now that they've begun their first real steps, the story can really get moving forward towards the final confrontation with Ibuki.
I also plan to write an Opening and Ending for the 2nd half of the story. Something I wish that I did for the first half, but too late for that. So, I hope you guys have been enjoying this story so far and I would love to know what you guys thought of this story so far. So, please leave a review.
Within the Shadow World, a shower of blue stardust rained down on the colorless world. Aichi and Kamui watched the stardust fall with overwhelming faith in Emi. Knowing that she'll be just fine.
"So, what should we do first, Big Bro?" Kamui turned to Aichi.
"Well we could have a Cardfight?" Aichi suggested.
"Alright! It's been awhile since I've had a good fight. Come on, Big Bro!" Kamui started to walk back into the Card shop.
"Yeah, it'll be fun-" Aichi paused as he noticed something in the corner of his eye.
"Hm? What's wrong, Big Bro?" Kamui turned his gaze to see what Aichi was looking at. "What the…"
In front of them was Shadow Emi, however her body was no longer fading away. Her red eyes were shaking as she stared at her hands with fear.
"W-Why? Why am I still here?"
Chapter End